Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.” So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do. Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience. Share. Enjoy. Interact. And welcome this dynamic, authentic sister in the Lord, Karen as she shares her heart with us today.
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“Don’t settle.”
It’s something I’ve taught my children for years when talking about relationships. Know what you’re looking for in a mate: the moral character (integrity, humbleness, etc), the personality (one of my daughter’s requirements is funny and sarcastic, but not in a demeaning or hurtful way), how you’d spend your free time (hiking, shopping, sporting events, dancing), dream vacations – (mine are centered around water and my husband’s on mountains, a challenge to this day), how they treat their momma, etc. When we know what we’re looking for before we begin, we have a much smaller chance of ending up with the wrong person.
In the military, there are a lot of things we have to settle for. Smaller housing than we’d like, an assignment farther from our extended family but a better job for our spouse, a different school district than we’d like because of the commute to post.
The people of Israel had been “settling” a long time for a life other than the one God designed for them. They were content to worship other Gods. I mean, who knows, it doesn’t hurt to cover all the bases, right? Sun god, rain god, cattle god, fertility god…
And so, after He had delivered them from Egypt and a life of pagan worship, the Lord delivered this message through Joshua:
“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” ~Joshua 24:14-15
God has the same message for us today. “Don’t settle”. For a god that doesn’t come through. For a god who makes you earn your way. For a god that makes you “get right” before you can “be right”. For a god that hasn’t given sacrificially of Himself asking nothing in return.
I’m guessing you’ve you tried other gods. I know I have. Sure they don’t have alters and poles and ask us to sacrifice animals. They include shopping, or our career, or motherhood, or money, even social media or our spouse. It can be anything we put our trust and time into other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Friends, where have you been tempted to settle? Did you? If not, what stopped you? How can we continue to make sure we don’t settle for less than Jesus? Join the conversation and leave a comment.
Don’t settle. He alone is faithful. There is no God like our God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the Alpha and the Omega. His mercies are new every morning. His character is nothing but perfect. He is sinless. His love is unending, His patience is as well. There is no one else, or no other thing, that compares to Him. NOTHING. You can’t go wrong with Jesus.
Karen Jaedicke has been speaking to, teaching and encouraging women for over 20 years. Growing up in a military family and now “growing up” one of her own, she has cultivated a passion for the challenges and joys of military life. She has been married to her husband Paul, an Army Chaplain, for 27 years. Her three children (two in college and one graduate) give her numerous opportunities for praise and prayer.
Karen gets excited about helping women find a deep connection to God’s Word and to each other. She delights in sharing her life through messages that lead women to realize how relevant and life changing her God can be – no matter what we’ve done, how many times we’ve failed, and how afraid we may be.
Linking up today with my friend Kristin over at Three-word Wednesday and having a little Coffee for your Heart with Holley. Oh! And be sure to join our #EverydayJesus link-up community right here at 7 Days Time every Thursday!
